Pullets, Hen with chicks, BUGS!

[ChirpyChicks1]

(Pictures in post #2)

I’m so mad

Yesterday, YESTERDAY, my hen hatched 6 chicks. I have them separated but in the coop. I then have 3, roughly 9 wk old, pullets in a dog kennel in the coop. I have the rest of my flock in the coop like normal, out in the run during the day.

Last night I went in my coop to check on everybody, I was using my cell phone as a flashlight. When I came back out I was looking at my phone and noticed a ton of tiny bugs crawling all over my phone. Obviously I freaked, brand new babies and I have something like this happen

I went back out with a real flashlight and started checking everything. The were all over my nesting boxes and on my roosting bars. BUT not one single bug was on any of my birds. The only one I didn’t check last night was my mama hen, I checked her this morning when I moved her and babies out of coop so I can clean, there was nothing on her.

Is there anything else these bugs can be besides mites?? I’m cleaning the coop regardless. I just cleaned last weekend, plus fresh shavings. I’ve already moved out mama hen and babies , and my youngsters. Now taking a break so the older girls can get into the coop to lay eggs. They are still there crawling all over my nesting boxes in broad daylight. I can lightly brush my hand across and I’ll be covered. I picked up a small handful of pine shavings and I had them all over. They don’t seem to be biting me. I didn’t look at the roosts before I started wetting them down. I don’t plan on putting the nesting boxes back into the coop I’ll find something else to make it work for now.

Any help or advice is appreciated, thank you for reading.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

My awesome phone camera makes these little buggers look bigger than they are. They look like moving specks of dirt. I just don’t understand how there can be SO many of them but not be on the birds

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Arggg. That is so frustrating.

Without seeing the little beasts, I can only make educated guesses and guide you to photos for help in identification.

Red roost mites are very small, red when full and grey when not, and live in the coop and not on the bird. Normally they only come out at night to feed.

So, of course, my first thought goes to those. The best thing to do is thoroughly clean the coop (which you are doing) and spray with permethrin spray like Gordon's so you can get into every nook and cranny.

Now as to the bugs having to be mites, no I don't think so. Years ago I lifted up my coop liner (I use cut up feed bags on the floors) and saw a teeming hoard of little beasties that were not red roosts mites. They were the wrong shape. They appeared to be living and eating the bedding. There are tons of different mites and buggies in the world, and there are those who simply love wood chips.

I cleaned and dusted heavily with poultry dust (permethrin) and troubles were gone.

So, it is possible they are some sort of wood mite. But of course it is possible they are red roost mites or the Northern Fowl mite which does live on the bird but in numbers will also inhabit the coop.

Here are some resources to help you sort things out. Good luck. Sorry you've got the buggies.

LofMc

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/
https://countrysidenetwork.com/dail...ern-fowl-mites-red-mites-on-chickens-poultry/
http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g954.pdf

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Here are some resources to help you sort things out. Good luck. Sorry you've got the buggies.

LofMc

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/
https://countrysidenetwork.com/dail...ern-fowl-mites-red-mites-on-chickens-poultry/
http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g954.pdf

Thank you for replying Did you see the pictures I posted to post #2? Thank you for the links. I’ve been through Chicken Chicks website (love her) and quickly looked at the next link but I’ll read it in full this afternoon.

My hens look perfect, their skin is completely normal and nothing on the feather shafts

 

[Lady of McCamley]

They look very suspiciously like mites. I'd spray with Gordon's and get rid of the lot.

LofMc

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

That’s what I’m going to treat it as but going to remain hopeful that I’m overreacting. Once I removed the nesting boxes I haven’t found any more bugs in the coop. I scooped bedding and checked the bucket after I dumped it and there were no bugs. I’m watching the floor and walls and see nothing either. Right now I’m cleaning with soapy bleach water. After Im finished with that I’ll run to town and find something at the store. Thanks for your help

 

[Ginmary]

Click on the link some people provided that says lice and mite identification: (http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/). The pictures there of poultry lice look very much like your pix on the paper towel.

 

[staceyj]

See, I am thinking what we’re looking at are mites!

This is a ghastly topic which gives me the heebie-jeebies and I am offering the sincerest moral support I possibly can by making you laugh, here goes :

Can we all just take a moment
to gaze in awe at the chicken chicks flawless manicure

and expertly cleaned diamond ring?

And the fact that she missed a finger... or is that a helper’s hand?
(Circled in blue)
Every time I look to her (fantastic) site for information I’m so distracted by this mind blowing question I can’t hardly think!



Sorry that’s all I have for you babe.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Click on the link some people provided that says lice and mite identification: (http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/). The pictures there of poultry lice look very much like your pix on the paper towel.

Thanks, as said earlier in post I’ve seen her post on the topic. I’ve been on her site since I discovered the little buggers Monday. There are no bugs on any of my birds and the feathers and skin look perfect. I checked all over their bodies and vent area.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

I LOVE the Chicken Chick! She’s amazing

See, I am thinking what we’re looking at are mites!

This is a ghastly topic which gives me the heebie-jeebies and I am offering the sincerest moral support I possibly can by making you laugh, here goes :

Can we all just take a moment
to gaze in awe at the chicken chicks flawless manicure

and expertly cleaned diamond ring?

And the fact that she missed a finger... or is that a helper’s hand?
(Circled in blue)
Every time I look to her (fantastic) site for information I’m so distracted by this mind blowing question I can’t hardly think!

View attachment 1428126

Sorry that’s all I have for you babe.